Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs website
China News Agency: According to reports, with the mediation of Norway, the Venezuelan government and opposition resumed dialogue in Mexico City on November 26 to reach a consensus on improving the livelihood of Venezuelan society. The joint statement issued by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada welcomed this, urged the two sides to reach a comprehensive agreement through dialogue, and stressed that they are willing to reconsider the sanctions policy against Venezuela if substantive progress is made in dialogue. What is China's comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: China is happy to see the Venezuelan government and opposition resuming dialogue and looks forward to the two sides meeting each other halfway and reaching a political solution at an early date. We have always firmly upheld the Charter of the United Nations and the basic norms governing international relations, and have always believed that the Venezuelan issue should be resolved by the Venezuelan people through dialogue and consultation within the framework of their own constitution and laws. China appreciates and supports the efforts of relevant countries to promote peace talks and is willing to continue to play a positive and constructive role on the Venezuelan issue.
At the same time, China reiterates its opposition to interference in other countries' internal affairs, unilateral sanctions and so-called "long-arm jurisdiction", and all kinds of political bullying. Facts have proved that the pressure of sanctions is unpopular and can only increase the difficulties of Venezuela's economy and people's livelihood. We call on relevant countries to stop interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs as soon as possible, lift unilateral sanctions, and contribute more positive energy to Venezuela's peace, stability and development.
AFP: On November 28, British Prime Minister Sunak blamed China's anti-epidemic policies, including the beating and arrest of a BBC journalist. What is China's comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: The relevant remarks of the British side ignore the facts, reverse black and white, and grossly interfere in China's internal affairs. Yesterday I gave a preliminary briefing on the situation. As far as it is understood from Shanghai, the relevant facts are as follows:
On the evening of the 27th, in order to maintain social order, the Shanghai police persuaded people to leave a certain intersection in accordance with the law, including a BBC reporter in Shanghai. When the police clearly informed the journalist that he was about to persuade the people at the scene to leave, the journalist refused to leave, and he never identified himself to the police, so the police forcibly took him away, and after carrying out the necessary identity checks and legal notices, asked him to leave on his own, and the relevant procedures were carried out completely within the framework of laws and regulations. The BBC reporter refused to cooperate in the process of police law enforcement, but acted like a victim, and the BBC immediately distorted the facts, hyping up the BBC reporter's so-called "arrest and beating" by the police at work, and splashing dirty water on the Chinese side. This is clearly in line with the BBC's usual style of maliciously touching porcelain.
It must be emphasized that foreign journalists enjoy the right to press reporting in accordance with the law, and must also abide by Chinese laws and regulations, and should present their press cards in advance when reporting and should not engage in activities inconsistent with their journalists' status, which is no exception for any media and has nothing to do with the so-called freedom of the press. There are many foreign media in China, why is it that the BBC has problems on the spot every time? This is something that should be seriously considered.
Taking this opportunity, I also have a few questions that I would like to ask the British side to answer:
First, how does the British government deal with domestic protesters? In 2020, demonstrations against lockdown measures broke out in London, with British police arresting more than 150 people. In 2021, British police arrested more than 200 people during a massive march against the government's policy of cutting public spending. From the public video materials, it can be seen that a number of British police surrounded the protesters with their bare hands, punched, kicked, beaten, let them cry and plead, and were not even moved.
Second, how does the UK government treat journalists? You should not forget that a few years ago, a Chinese journalist was obstructed and even physically assaulted in every way just because he exercised his legitimate right to ask questions and express his views at the side of the annual meeting of the British Conservative Party, and was finally convicted by a British court. British journalist Graham Phillips became the first British citizen to be sanctioned by his own government simply for creating content that was "not suitable for the West".
Third, how does the BBC report on China? From the "netherworld filter" to distorted reports related to Xinjiang and Hong Kong, many people are deeply impressed by the BBC's malicious smearing and attacking China's "black history". Since 2019, the BBC has ignored the rioters' brutality in its Hong Kong-related reports, but accused "Hong Kong police of violent law enforcement." In Xinjiang-related reporting, BBC correspondents in Beijing only used a few non-real satellite pictures and so-called reports by anti-China activists to concoct "lies of the century" to attack and smear Xinjiang. In the epidemic-related reports, the video of the road counter-terrorism exercise was even used as "evidence" of China's violent epidemic prevention. Why is the BBC always on the scene? Are BBC journalists reporting news or making news?
The British side should respect the facts, be cautious in its words and deeds, put away hypocritical double standards, and stop playing with double standards.
Indian Broadcasting Corporation: The Chinese Embassy in the Maldives said it was "regrettable" that Malaysia denied that it had participated in the China-India Ocean Regional Development Cooperation Forum held on November 21. Australia has also denied participating. What is China's response to this?
Zhao Lijian: I said at the press conference yesterday that you should go to the competent department for this issue. Afterwards, my colleague also provided you with the relevant contact information. If you have specific questions, you can report them to the competent authorities.
Hubei Radio and Television Reporter: According to reports, former World Bank economist Vajra said in an interview that China's sustained economic development will bring more vitality to the world economy. China stands on the right side of the history of economic globalization and believes that China's high-quality development prospects are broad, which will bring more confidence and opportunities to global economic recovery. What is the spokesperson's comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: In the past decade, China's economic growth rate has averaged 6.6%, contributing more than 30% to world economic growth. Last year, China's GDP accounted for 18.5% of the world's total economy, and its total foreign trade was 6.9 trillion US dollars, ranking the second largest economy and the largest trading country in the world. In the face of complex and severe domestic and international situations, the fundamentals of China's stable and long-term economic stability have not changed, and have always been the positive energy for global prosperity and development.
President Xi Jinping pointed out in his speech at the 29th APEC Economic Leaders' Informal Meeting that history has repeatedly proved that openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation are the right path for the world. China has always been an advocate and promoter of an open world economy, and we have promoted high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road, put forward global development initiatives and promoted their implementation, tightened economic ties between countries, shared China's development opportunities, and continuously contributed to the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Openness is the only way for development and progress. China will persist in opening up to the outside world on a larger scale, in a wider range of fields and at a deeper level, adhere to the path of Chinese-style modernization, build a higher-level open economic system, and continue to provide impetus for world economic recovery.
CCTV: According to reports, on the 26th, the chairman of the Election Commission of Equatorial Guinea announced that President Obiang, the candidate of the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea, won the presidential election with 94.9% of the vote. What is China's comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: China congratulates Equatorial Guinea on the successful holding of the general election and President Obiang's victory. We are confident that, under the leadership of President Obiang, Equatorial Guinea will achieve greater success in nation-building.
Equatorial Guinea is a good brother and partner of China, and the political mutual trust between the two countries is solid, and bilateral relations have maintained a high level of development. China attaches great importance to the development of relations with Equatorial Guinea and is willing to continue to work hand in hand with the Czech side to continuously deepen cooperation in various fields and push the comprehensive cooperative partnership between the two countries to a new level.
Beijing Daily: According to reports, a few days ago, the completion ceremony of the southern tunnel was held for the Kanapuri River Bottom Tunnel project in Bangladesh, which was undertaken and implemented by a Chinese enterprise. The tunnel is the first river bottom tunnel in Bangladesh and the first underwater tunnel in South Asia. What is China's comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: China congratulates the completion of the southern line of the Kanapuri River Bottom Tunnel. The Kanapuri River Bottom Tunnel project is an important part of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor. The completion of the southern tunnel of the project is another important achievement of the "Belt and Road" jointly built by China and neighboring countries, which is of great significance to improve local transportation, improve the Asian Highway network, and promote the interconnection between Bangladesh and neighboring countries. Upon completion of the tunnel, the travel time from Chittagong Airport to the Industrial Park will be shortened from 4 hours to 20 minutes.
Infrastructure is the cornerstone of connectivity and a priority area for the Belt and Road Initiative. We are pleased to see that with the joint efforts of all parties, the "Belt and Road" infrastructure projects have been implemented in an orderly manner. I believe everyone has also noticed a message last weekend that since the opening of the Pelješac Bridge in Croatia undertaken by Chinese enterprises, more than 1 million cars have passed safely and in good condition. The bridge has become a bridge of cooperation between China and Croatia, a bridge of development and a bridge of friendship.
Looking to the future, China is willing to work with all parties to better align the Belt and Road Initiative with the development strategies and regional cooperation initiatives of other countries, jointly promote infrastructure construction, and strive to achieve greater and more convenient connectivity, achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and benefit the people of all countries.
Indian Broadcasting Corporation: Regarding the Kanapuri River Bottom Tunnel project in Bangladesh that you mentioned, is the project part of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor? Is the project covered by the bilateral agreement between China and Bangladesh?
Zhao Lijian: This is a bilateral project between China and Bangladesh, and it is also under the framework of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor.